Psychedelic mushrooms are coming to Oregon. How to get them
Oregonians are one step closer to legally consuming magic mushrooms.
Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS), the government agency responsible for creating a framework for regulating magic mushrooms in Oregon, is now accepting applications for licenses to legally grow, test, and facilitate the consumption of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms.
OPS finalized its rules regulating psilocybin mushrooms on December 31, two years after Oregon voters passed Measure 109 in November 2020, becoming the first state to legalize psilocybin. The agency began accepting license applications on Monday.
Although the move marks a significant step toward legal shrooms, people in Oregon will not be able to just walk into a store and buy magic mushrooms and use them as they please. Regulations require mushrooms or a psilocybin extract to be obtained and consumed in a licensed facility and in the presence of a licensed facilitator.
Many mushroom shops have opened illegally in recent months and were promptly shut down by police, contributing to the common misconception that purchasing psilocybin mushrooms is the same as purchasing cannabis from a dispensary. But that is not the case.
This may come as a shock to most, but Measure 109 emphasizes the health benefits of psilocybin, and research has shown the benefits of having a facilitator on hand when someone is on a psilocybin trip. Finally, OPS is a division within the Oregon Health Authority.
Now that licensing is open, it’s a race for businesses to get off the ground and open to the public. The first psilocybin service center is expected to open sometime in the next few months, and when it does, Oregon residents will be legally able to consume shrooms in the presence of a facilitator.
According to Angela Allbee, manager for OPS, thousands of years of Indigenous practices around the world, many years of unregulated practices, and much clinical, medical, and academic research have come together for this new law. This is how the psilocybin regulatory system works in Oregon.
Are magic mushrooms legal in Oregon?
It is only legal to obtain psilocybin through a licensed service center and it may only be consumed on-site under the supervision of a licensed intermediary.
Only those with a manufacturing license from OPS can grow magic mushrooms in Oregon – that’s it Not legal to grow your own magic mushrooms at home.
It is still illegal to possess, use, and grow your own magic mushrooms in Oregon and the rest of the country. It is also illegal to search for magic mushrooms.
Although psilocybin is still illegal outside of the OPS system, the substance is being decriminalized in Oregon, meaning personal possession will only result in a small fine. That’s thanks to Measure 110, which Oregon residents also approved in 2020. It decriminalizes all controlled substances – including psilocybin – by imposing a maximum fine of $100 for possession. Individuals who manufacture or distribute controlled substances continue to face criminal prosecution.
How to get magic mushrooms in Oregon
Magic mushrooms can only be legally obtained through an OPS licensed psilocybin service center.
There are four licenses in Oregon’s psilocybin system that govern a psilocybin mushroom’s journey from spore to consumption:
- Manufacturers (who grow mushrooms)
- Testing labs (that test mushrooms for potency and perform quality control)
- Service Centers (where psilocybin/mushrooms are consumed)
- Facilitators (who administer psilocybin/shrooms and oversee an individual during their journey)
A person wishing to consume mushrooms is referred to as a “customer”. Customers must attend two sessions and can also attend additional optional sessions:
- Preparation Session – when a client meets with a facilitator prior to consuming psilocybin to discuss the experience, set expectations and intentions, create a travel plan for the journey home, and more, at least 24 hours prior to administration
- Administration Session – when psilocybin/shrooms are consumed under the supervision of the facilitator
- (Optional) Integration Session – Customers can also join a follow-up integration session after consuming shrooms to reconnect with the moderator for insights or assistance with the psilocybin experience.
Related
What are Psychedelic Mushrooms and Psilocybin?
Who can get magic mushrooms?
Any adult 21 years or older may consume psilocybin mushrooms at a licensed service center with a licensed facilitator in Oregon. they do Not must be an Oregon resident, and you do Not need some kind of health card or a doctor’s recommendation.
Potential psilocybin clients simply need to make an appointment with a service center, attend a preparation session, and then hold an administrative session where they consume mushrooms under the supervision of a facilitator.
Clients are encouraged to find a facilitator and service center that suits their style and intentions to properly set up and set up.
When can I get magic mushrooms in Oregon?
Many expect the first service centers to open in the spring or summer of this year.
The exact start date for the opening of the first psilocybin service center is still unknown. Now that OPS is accepting license applications, anyone who wants to start a psilocybin business, whether it’s a manufacturer, tester, service center or intermediary, can do so legally, it’s just a matter of bureaucracy to get a license from OPS and actually start a business open. (Faculty leader training is currently available in some locations.)
Where in Oregon can I get Magic Mushrooms?
Although the state passed Measure 109 in 2020 to allow psilocybin, late last year nearly 70% of the state opted out and banned psilocybin in individual counties. Psilocybin will only be available in 11 of Oregon’s 36 counties, and some cities in those counties have also opted out (be sure to check local laws). Here are the counties where psilocybin will be available:
- Multnomah
- Washington
- roadway
- Jackson
- deschutes
- jamhill
- Benton
- Columbia
- Lincoln
- Wasco
- Hood River
How much will it cost to take magic mushrooms?
Legally consuming magic mushrooms in Oregon will come at a high cost. Some estimate that a psilocybin experience, including sessions, will cost thousands of dollars. The exact price of an experience is determined by a moderator and a service center.
Despite its new legality, access to psilocybin is a major concern and criticism of the Oregon system, as the high price of a legal psilocybin experience is considered prohibitive for most people.
Because a psilocybin experience involves at least two, if not three, sessions: preparation, administration, and optional integration, a customer pays not only for the shrooms themselves, but also for the time and expertise of a facilitator, and the time and space of a service center. Customers don’t just buy a product, they buy an experience and support.
This high cost of a psilocybin experience is largely due to the high cost of training the facilitator. These costs are likely to be passed on to clients to allow facilitators to recoup their investment in training.
Training for psilocybin facilitators can cost up to $10,000, and facilitators are also required to pay a $2,000 annual license fee. Service centers, test labs, and manufacturers must pay $10,000 each year for a license.
Additionally, it is expected that many psilocybin brokers are currently therapists, and the typical price of therapy is around $150/hour. The number of hours required for a preparation, administration and a possible integration session can quickly add up to 8-10 working hours or even more.
There will likely be intermediaries and service centers offering more affordable services, but no training or operations are subsidized by the state as of yet.
How many mushrooms can I take?
Mushrooms are measured by the psilocybin content, which is around 1% of the total weight of the dried shrooms. For example, 1 gram of mushrooms is approximately 10 mg (milligrams) of psilocybin.
The maximum allowable amount of psilocybin in one administration session is 50 mg, or about 5 grams of dried mushrooms. This can be divided into several doses.
It’s important to note that these are not exact numbers – each mushroom has a different amount of psilocybin. All products must be tested for psilocybin content and are clearly labeled.
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How will the administrative session go?
The OPS system focuses on the customer, and it’s up to them to find the experience they want.
“A customer wants to find a licensed service center that fits the type of set and environment they really want to expand their experience with,” Allbee said. “This is a non-directive approach to psilocybin services, meaning the client leads the journey and licensed intermediaries are there to assist.”
A mushroom trip usually lasts 4-6 hours. OPS rules state that a client must stay at a service center for at least a certain amount of time depending on the dose of psilocybin taken:
- 2.5-5mg: 1 hour
- 5-10mg: 2 hours
- 10-25 mg: 4 hours
- 25-35 mg: 5 hours
- 35-50mg: 6 hours
Customers can stay longer in a service center if they wish.
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How long do magic mushrooms stay in your system?
What if I have a bad trip?
The OPS system is customer driven, and moderators are there to help customers throughout their psilocybin experience, whether it be emotional, difficult, beautiful, complex, or a combination thereof, Allbee says.
“We don’t really have a term for a bad trip. The psilocybin journey can bring reactions to the surface,” Allbee said. “The licensed facilitator that goes through these training programs learns how to support someone and how to be with them in those reactions … It’s really about having support and someone who can be with you.”
How do I get home from a service center after tripping over mushrooms?
A client and facilitator must agree in writing on a transportation plan during the prep session before the client consumes psilocybin. The customer is not allowed to drive home or operate machinery, which could be restrictive for those living without access to transport or in rural areas.
Pat Goggins
Pat Goggins is a senior content editor at Leafly, specializing in cannabis cultivation after working for a commercial grower in Oregon. When you’re not correcting typos, chances are you’ll find him on a boat or in the mountains.
Check out Pat Goggins’ articles
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